Current H. Upmann No 2 (2013)

[El Presidente]

There was a question put on the Shoutbox as to the quality and flavour profile of the

current H. Upmann Number 2 (let's say 2013)

I was in the land of nod at the time but it is a good topic for discussion as the more opinions the more relevant the answer.

For those that have smoked 2013 Upmann Number 2's, let us know your thoughts on general quality, flavour profile and perhaps how they compare to other 2013 Piramides.

[hulklogan]

Smoked about half a box, not a fan; way too bitter. My only experience with these though, so maybe they just aren't my thing...

[anjimj]

Have a box from April 2013, and had one last month and have to say they are really coming along nicely. Amazing things happen after that 1 yr period. Just need to be patient and you will be rewarded. Construction was perfect, draw was just tight enough and beautiful flavors or mild spice and nuttiness with some hints of mocha and sweetness through out the cigars.

[mk05]

Amazing things happen after that 1 yr period.

What, a sick period where cigars taste like hot air or straight tobacco?

[Laxman]

For me the Upmann 2's have always been a very consistent cigar. With a few years on them they are tough to beat. The 08 and 09's are smoking great right now. Have a few boxes of 13's but have yet to try any out.

[DoubleDD]

Tried two from my 2013 box and both were harsh and unrefined. They have been put to sleep. Construction was very nice though.

[anjimj]

yes, I find that a year after the box date my Apr 2013 box was beginning to come thru with some great flavors. The first 7 from that box tasted like straight tobacco.

[ElJefe]

Thanks Prez. Hearing everyone's input and personal experience leads me to hold off on the Upmann No. 2's for now. Gotta have ready now go-to smokes as well; can't wait for everything to age lol.

Thank you all.

Cheers.

[Smallclub]

Smoked about half a box, not a fan; way too bitter.

bitter Upmann = too young Upmann.

[LGC]

A properly blended Upmann #2 should never be ready to smoke young. If they are good out of the box, then I don't want them. If well blended, they shouldn't be sampled for several more years. I should hope that Habanos doesn't ruin the blend on every vitola out there by making them "approachable" to all smokers, young.

[Bartolomeo]

A properly blended Upmann #2 should never be ready to smoke young. If they are good out of the box, then I don't want them. If well blended, they shouldn't be sampled for several more years. I should hope that Habanos doesn't ruin the blend on every vitola out there by making them "approachable" to all smokers, young.

Understood and that being said, what about cigars that are approachable ROTT? For example, what about a Upmann Conn A that is very good fresh ie. UPE 13 Conn A, is that a bad thing in your opinion? Is it a bad thing that cigars lately have been better fresh than in years past? I know we cant predict how they will age but something smoking fresh is not such a bad thing IMHO

TIA for your thoughts!

Bart

[mk05]

Understood and that being said, what about cigars that are approachable ROTT? For example, what about a Upmann Conn A that is very good fresh ie. UPE 13 Conn A, is that a bad thing in your opinion? Is it a bad thing that cigars lately have been better fresh than in years past? I know we cant predict how they will age but something smoking fresh is not such a bad thing IMHO

TIA for your thoughts!

Bart

They haven't hit the sick period yet. Probably will taste bitter and like straight tobacco after the one year mark.

[sw15825]

I dont have a ton of experience w upman 2. I have only smoked a few that were several years old and great to smoke.

However I have noticed alot across the board is cigars smoke good for first 9, 10 months, sometimes up to a year then go to sleep for the next year or 2. Ie. Had great Monte 2, good first year now asleep at 2 years, JL#2 great fresh then asleep at 10 months, D5 was great first year then asleep second and great again at 2 years, 2012 E2 and SLR A Asleep at 2 years, jl 1 good fresh then asleep at 1 year. RASS was a big surprise smoking well up to the year point and still not too bad. They never smoked well in past with less than 3 or 4 years minimum imo.

Around mid to late 2011 and before, cigars did not smoke nearly as well in the fresh, first year imo, although I did notice some exceptions, mostly with Cohiba, but was not the rule otherwise. Now its a different story. I hope its just better tabacco, better processing methods and older tabaccos that caused the positive change. Will they age well ? We'll see someday.

[fookite]

Given the variance in quality of cigars in a typical box of Cuban cigars, I can't help but be skeptical when someone declares a box to be in a "sick period."

I mean, if you smoke five great cigars over the course of a year and then smoke one bitter one, would you declare the box to be "sick?" If, instead, you smoke one bland one, would you declare the box to be "asleep?" Wouldn't an equally plausible explanation be that there was at least one bitter or bland cigar in the box to begin with?

[dowjr1]

Facinating thread...remember our boy Piggy does not believe in the theory of the "sick period." His ideas is that if you get a poor smoke after a box has been smoking well for a while you simply got a bad stick....not the box going to sleep. Would be interested to hear Prez's input on this.

[asmartbull]

After reading this thread, I went back and revisited some 12,13 H2's......while the 12's a be turning the corner, I think the 13's are sick. I have never been smoking a box of young sticks that were good, then got an off one and called it sick. I tend to find entire boxes that need are down for a couple years. In '10 it seamed like many marcas were very approachable young, H'2 was never one of them

[El Presidente]

Facinating thread...remember our boy Piggy does not believe in the theory of the "sick period." His ideas is that if you get a poor smoke after a box has been smoking well for a while you simply got a bad stick....not the box going to sleep. Would be interested to hear Prez's input on this.

I still have never had an appalling box of cigars that has ever really become brilliant.

I have never had an exceptional box of cigars young go totally bad/bland for no apparent reason.

I find bitterness or blandness in young cigars to be mostly a result of poor fermentation, poor blending or too high a moisture content.

There are plenty of cigars however that (IMHO) need time to meld (age) to be at their subjective best. This to me is simply because of their blend. The Upmann Number 2 is one of those cigars for me.

[sw15825]

Facinating thread...remember our boy Piggy does not believe in the theoliterally sick the "sick period." His ideas is that if you get a poor smoke after a box has been smoking well for a while youflavorfult a bad stick....not the box going to sleep. Would be interested to hear Prez's input on this.

I think most of us use the terms sick and asleep interchangeably as meaning, as Prez stated "not at their subjective best". Not literally sick as in "Reeking with ammonia" or asleep as in "bland and crappy cigar", but in a phase where their not quite as flavorful/ rich as they were (ie) " Subjective best".

[davidsan]

I would say I have smoked 4-5 of them from 2013 and of those 2 were plugged, and the rest were I would say par for the course with previous Upmann No2's I have smoked.

I do prefer to go the Diplo 2 if both were placed in front of me.